Seller says winning bidder on Cardi B’s microphone may not be legit
The auction winner, who bid nearly $100,000 for the microphone Cardi B threw off during a concert in Las Vegas last month, has yet to keep his end of the deal.
The wireless flight mic fetched a closing bid of $99,900 on Ebay this week, but it made it not actually sold, seller Scott Fisher told The Times, revealing that the bidder has not responded since the auction ended on Monday.
The device – a “Shure Axient digital microphone that Cardi B threw at a person” — was added to the list by the owner of Wave Inc. last week to help raise money for two Nevada charities. This comes after the incident made headlines and sparked a battery investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Fisher’s Nevada-based audio production company provided audio equipment for Cardi B’s July 29 performance at Drai’s Beachclub. The “WAP” rapper’s performance – and the projectile – went viral after footage showed her hurling the microphone at a visitor, who threw the contents of her drink at her. The police investigation culminated in the presenter being acquitted of the charges due to “insufficient evidence”, but the incident remains part of the debate about respectful boundaries between artists and their fans.
In the meantime, the myth of the microphone has fragmented into a narrative of its own.
“The winner of the auction failed to pay or even respond to messages,” Fisher said after reports circulated this week that the device was nearing a six-figure closing bid.
Fisher said Ebay officials told him he had to wait 48 hours before he could withdraw the bid and “make offers to other bidders to actually buy the item.” At least 55 bidders competed for the piece during the week-long auction.
“I don’t know who the winning bidder is…I’m just disappointed that the winner doesn’t appear to be legitimate,” he said, noting the last bidder has only the grade 1 in the eBay feedback ratings.
“There are other bidders who seem to be at least a lot more reputable and I think I can sell the mic for a good amount.” [make] good donations to the charities,” he added.
Fisher was shocked at how quickly and how high the bidding went. He told multiple outlets that the microphone retails for around $1,000. He listed it on eBay with an opening bid of $500 in hopes of raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Friendship Circle of Las Vegas. With the first bid, the price immediately jumped to $11,700.
Fisher said the widespread media interest in his sound equipment was “a bit draining” but he persevered “realizing that it’s all for a good cause.”
CBS News reported Tuesday that Fisher expected the mic to garner interest, but that he didn’t think the “piece of hip-hop disgrace” would sell for as much as it did.
“I was hoping it would cost $5,000, but again I had no idea,” he said. “I thought it would get some national attention, but the news coverage has been stunning.”
